When should masks be worn in a healthcare setting?

Wearing masks during procedures that may generate droplets or aerosols is crucial for infection control in healthcare settings. This practice helps to prevent the spread of infectious agents that can be transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosolized particles, particularly in environments where close contact with patients occurs. Such procedures include surgeries, intubations, or any situation where a healthcare worker could be exposed to a patient's respiratory secretions.

Masks are specially designed to provide a barrier that significantly reduces the risk of airborne pathogens being inhaled by health care personnel, thus protecting both staff and other patients. This transmission prevention is essential, especially when dealing with contagious respiratory diseases, as the potential for infection increases during procedures that create fine droplets or aerosols.

In contrast, while wearing masks during patient consultations, when entering a healthcare facility, or during cleaning and disinfection may also be recommended under certain circumstances, the heightened risk associated with droplet and aerosol-generating procedures strongly justifies the use of masks in those specific situations as a priority for infection control measures.